Dahlia plant named &#39;DAHLGR128&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Dahlia  plant named ‘Dahlgr128’, characterized by its relatively compact, mounding and dense plant habit; freely basal branching habit; dark green-colored leaves; early and freely flowering habit; single-type inflorescence form; large inflorescences with red and yellow bi-colored ray florets; and good postproduction longevity and garden performance.

Botanical designation: Dahlia hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DAHLGR128 ’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Dahlia plant, botanically known as Dahlia hybrida, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Dahlgr128’.

The new Dahlia plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Lisse, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to create new compact container and garden Dahlia plants with dark-colored leaves, large inflorescences and good postproduction longevity.

The new Dahlia plant originated from a cross-pollination conducted by the Inventor during the summer of 2010 of a proprietary seedling selection of Dahlia hybrida identified as code number VD5-84, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary seedling selection of Dahlia hybrida identified as code number VD5-272, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Dahlia plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Lisse, The Netherlands during the summer of 2011.

Asexual reproduction of the new Dahlia plant by cuttings since February, 2012 in a controlled greenhouse environment in Lisse, The Netherlands, has shown that the unique features of this new Dahlia plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Dahlia have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Dahlgr128’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Dahlgr128’ as a new and distinct Dahlia plant:

-   -   1. Relatively compact, mounding and dense plant habit.     -   2. Freely basal branching habit.     -   3. Dark green-colored leaves.     -   4. Early and freely flowering habit.     -   5. Single-type inflorescence form.     -   6. Large inflorescences with red and yellow bi-colored ray         florets.     -   7. Good postproduction longevity and garden performance.

Plants of the new Dahlia differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Dahlia are more compact than plants of the         female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Dahlia are denser than and not as open as         plants of the female parent selection.     -   3. Plants of the new Dahlia and the female parent selection         differ in leaf color as plants of the female parent selection         have bronze-colored leaves.     -   4. Plants of the new Dahlia and the female parent selection         differ in ray floret color as plants of the female parent         selection have soft red and yellow bi-colored ray florets.

Plants of the new Dahlia differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Dahlia are taller than plants of the male         parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Dahlia and the male parent selection differ         in leaf color as plants of the male parent selection have         bronze-colored leaves.     -   3 Plants of the new Dahlia and the male parent selection differ         in ray floret color as plants of the male parent selection have         brownish red and golden yellow bi-colored ray florets.

Plants of the new Dahlia can be compared to plants of the Dahlia hybrida ‘HS Flame’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,426. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Lisse, The Netherlands, plants of the new Dahlia differed from plants of ‘HS Flame’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Dahlia were more compact than plants of ‘HS         Flame’.     -   2. Plants of the new Dahlia were denser than and not as open as         plants of ‘HS Flame’.     -   3. Plants of the new Dahlia flowered about 15 days earlier than         plants of ‘HS Flame’.     -   4. Plants of the new Dahlia had slightly larger inflorescences         than plants of ‘HS Flame’.     -   5. Plants of the new Dahlia and ‘HS Flame’ differed in ray         floret color pattern as ray florets of plants of ‘HS Flame’ were         mostly red in color and yellow in color towards the base.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Dahlia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Dahlia plant.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Dahlgr128’ grown in an outdoor nursery.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Dahlgr128’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the late summer and early autumn in ground beds in an outdoor nursery in Lisse, The Netherlands and under cultural practices typical of commercial Dahlia production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 10° C. to 30° C. and night temperatures ranged from 6° C. to 19° C. Plants were pinched one time about three weeks after planting. Plants were three months old when the photographs were taken and four months old when the description was taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Dahlia hybrida ‘Dahlgr128’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary seedling selection of             Dahlia hybrida identified as code number VD5-84, not             patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary seedling selection of             Dahlia hybrida identified as code number VD5-272, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About twelve days at soil             temperatures about 15° C. and air temperatures ranging from             about 15° C. to 25° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 13 to 14 days at soil             temperatures about 15° C. and air temperatures ranging from             about 15° C. to 25° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 18 days             at soil temperatures about 15° C. and air temperatures             ranging from about 15° C. to 25° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 20 days             at soil temperatures about 15° C. and air temperatures             ranging from about 15° C. to 25° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fleshy.         -   Rooting habit.—Moderately freely branching; dense.         -   Tubers.—Length: About 16 cm. Diameter: About 14 cm. Texture:             Corky. Color: Close to 164D. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Relatively compact and mounding             plant habit; appropriate for 15-cm to 20-cm containers;             inverted triangular plant form; freely basal branching with             about six primary lateral branches developing per plant;             dense and bushy appearance; inflorescences held above the             foliar plane on strong peduncles; vigorous growth habit.         -   Plant height.—About 55 cm.         -   Plant diameter or spread.—About 30 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 30 cm to 35 cm. Diameter:             About 1.3 cm. Internode length: About 7 cm to 16 cm.             Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Strength: Strong. Aspect: Erect             to about 20° from vertical. Color: Close to 148A; towards             the apex, heavily tinged with close to 166A. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple or compound with three or             occasionally five leaflets per leaf.         -   Leaf length, simple leaves.—About 8 cm.         -   Leaf width, simple leaves.—About 4.5 cm.         -   Leaf length, compound leaves with three leaflets.—About 19             cm.         -   Leaf width, compound leaves with three leaflets.—About 12             cm.         -   Shape, simple leaves or leaflets.—Ovate.         -   Apex, simple leaves or leaflets.—Acuminate.         -   Base, simple leaves or leaflets.—Attenuate.         -   Margin, simple leaves or leaflets.—Serrate; sinuses             divergent.         -   Venation pattern, simple leaves or leaflets.—Pinnate,             reticulate.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces, simple leaves or             leaflets.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Color.—Developing and fully expanded leaves or leaflets,             upper surface: Close to 147A; venation, close to 187C.             Developing and fully expanded leaves or leaflets, lower             surface: Close to 191A; venation, close to 187B.         -   Petioles.—Length, simple leaves: About 2 cm. Length,             compound leaves with three leaflets: About 3 cm to 4 cm.             Diameter, simple leaves or leaflets: About 4 mm. Texture,             upper and lower surfaces, simple leaves or leaflets: Smooth,             glabrous. Color, simple leaves or leaflets, upper surface:             Close to 183B. Color, simple leaves or leaflets, lower             surface: Close to 146C. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Appearance and flowering habit.—Single-type inflorescences             with ray and disc florets developing acropetally on a             receptacle; inflorescences positioned above and beyond the             foliar plane on strong peduncles; inflorescences face             upright to outwardly; freely flowering habit with typically             about 22 to 27 inflorescence buds and open inflorescences             per plant at one time during the flowering season.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Time to flower.—Early flowering habit; plants begin             flowering about 65 days after planting; flowering continuous             during the summer and autumn in The Netherlands.         -   Post-production longevity.—Good postproduction longevity;             inflorescences maintain good substance for about eleven days             on the plant and for about four to five days as a cut             flower; inflorescences persistent.         -   Inflorescence buds.—Height: About 1.6 cm. Diameter: About             1.4 cm. Shape: Oblate. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color:             Close to 174A.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—Large, about 9.4 cm.         -   Inflorescence depth (height).—About 2.3 cm.         -   Disc diameter.—About 2 cm.         -   Receptacle height.—About 9 mm.         -   Receptacle diameter.—About 1.7 cm.         -   Ray florets.—Number of ray florets per inflorescence: About             eight arranged in a single whorl. Length: About 4.7 cm.             Width: About 2.8 cm. Shape: Ovate. Apex: Mucronulate. Base:             Attenuate. Margin: Entire. Aspect: Initially upright to             roughly perpendicular to the peduncle. Texture and luster,             upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; velvety. Color:             When opening, upper surface: Close to 46A; towards the apex,             close to 17A. When opening, lower surface: Close to 46A; at             the apex and along the veins, close to 161A. Fully opened,             upper surface: Close to 45A; towards the apex, close to 14A;             color does not change with development. Fully opened, lower             surface: Close to 44A; at the margins, close to 20A.         -   Disc florets.—Number of disc florets per inflorescence:             About 95. Length: About 1.9 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Shape:             Tubular; apex dentate, pentafid. Aspect: Mostly upright.             Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color, immature: Apex: Close to             166A. Mid-section: Close to 14A. Base: Close to 1C. Color,             mature: Apex: Close to 17B. Mid-section: Close to 14A. Base:             Close to 17B.         -   Phyllaries.—Quantity per inflorescence: About five or six             arranged in a single whorl. Length: About 1.7 cm. Width:             About 8 mm. Shape: Ovate. Apex: Acuminate. Base: Attenuate.             Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous. Color, upper surface: Close to 200A. Color, lower             surface: Close to 187A.         -   Peduncles.—Length, terminal peduncle: About 30 cm. Length,             fourth peduncle: About 20 cm. Length, seventh peduncle:             About 8 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm. Strength: Strong. Aspect:             Mostly erect to 20° from vertical. Texture: Smooth,             glabrous. Color: Close to 187B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium, present on disc florets             only: Quantity per disc floret: Five. Filament length: About             7 mm. Filament color: Close to 1C. Anther length: About             6 mm. Anther shape: Lanceolate. Anther color: Close to 16B.             Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 17A.             Gynoecium, present on ray and disc florets: Quantity per             floret: One. Pistil length: About 8 mm. Stigma shape:             Lanceolate. Stigma color: Close to 12B. Style length: About             6 mm. Style color: Close to 150C. Ovary color: Close to 8A.             Fruits: Length: About 2.6 cm. Diameter: About 2.5 cm. Color:             Close to 187B. Seeds: Length: About 8 mm. Diameter: About             2 mm. Color: Close to 199A. -   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Dahlia have not been     shown to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Dahlia     plants. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Dahlia have exhibited good     tolerance to rain and wind and have been observed to tolerate     temperatures from about 0° C. to about 35° C. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Dahlia plant named ‘Dahlgr128’ as illustrated and described. 